Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Purge
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After retrieving Jeff's body, Luna and I headed to the capital of the Grand Duchy, Vain.
Luna and I rode on a white steed.
Of course, I had no idea how to ride, so I just sat behind her.
-Clop. Clop.
The cheerful sound of hooves rang out.
We didn't exchange a single word the entire way.
A long, heavy silence flowed between us, broken only by the clopping of the hooves.
Was she embarrassed?
But then I thought, what kind of woman was she to feel such girlish emotions?
No, that heartless woman didn't seem like the type to feel shame.
She was the kind who wouldn't bleed even if pricked with a needle.
I'd never once read in the novel about Luna smiling.
Just like the descriptions of her always wearing an emotionless face, I'd never seen her smile, not even once.
And we'd spent nearly a month here subjugating monsters.
After riding for quite some time as the sun began to set...
-Neigh!
The horse let out a small whinny and stopped running.
"We'll camp here tonight."
Even after what happened last night, her voice was dry and calm.
Losing her purity here meant she could never marry.
Well, she was the one who claimed to be married to the Grand Duchy itself. Maybe she never intended to marry anyway, so it didn't matter.
In any case...
"Hic... that's a relief."
I sniffled from my runny nose as she dismounted skillfully and offered me her hand. I took it and got down.
"Ugh, it's so cold."
The biting northern wind pierced through my armor and padded clothes, stinging my skin.
Even though the padded armor was stuffed with thick cotton.
As I dismounted and prepared to set up the tent...
"I'll go gather firewood."
I cursed inwardly as Luna said that and vanished.
Honestly, gathering firewood was no big deal compared to pitching a tent, which was exhausting.
Just as I nearly finished setting up the tent...
"You pitched it faster than I expected."
She returned with her arms full of wood and fallen leaves, then lit the fire with practiced ease.
And soon...
-Whoosh.
Luna stared at the flames dancing on the twigs.
"Time to eat dinner."
Luna unpacked a sack from the saddlebags containing bread and meat.
She poked a hole in the meat with expert skill, held it near her cheek to cook it.
"Eat up."
She handed me some bread.
We barely spoke during the meal.
The atmosphere felt heavy somehow.
Her reaction was so cold it was hard to believe she was the same woman gasping in my arms just last night.
Better this way, though.
There was nothing worse than a grand noblewoman threatening murder and clan extermination after we'd been intimate.
Was it because I ate so well?
Luna offered me skewered meat with a subtle expression.
"Want more meat?"
"No, I'm good."
The meat after so long made it hard to hold back.
"About last night..."
She wore a cold expression.
"If you breathe a word of it anywhere, your life will be in danger."
I gave a wry smile at her warning.
Hey, I had no intention of blabbing about spending the night with the Grand Duchess.
Only an idiot would go around saying something that'd get them stabbed.
It could even land me with a noble insult charge and execution.
I wanted no part of that.
"I swear on my life. It won't happen."
Mentioning my life first seemed to ease her mind a bit, as she let out a sigh.
"Good. I just hope you don't foolishly brag about it and end up killed by suitors."
The suitors were the nobles who'd previously proposed to her.
They were all handsome and accomplished, but I remembered Luna didn't trust them.
At twelve, after her parents died, she'd fought a life-or-death battle with the regent who seized power.
Thrown into politics at such a young age, she couldn't view suitors favorably.
She probably suspected they wanted to usurp the Heyron Grand Duchy.
But hadn't she dealt with all the suitors decisively?
Having watched her firmly reject them, I asked out of curiosity.
"Didn't you turn down those suitors? So why..."
Luna cut me off coldly.
"Aiden, knowing nobles' secrets won't do you any good."
I swallowed hard at the warning laced with faint killing intent.
"Sorry."
Only after my apology did her face soften.
She sighed, speaking as if lamenting.
"Sigh, I overreacted. You're my benefactor, after all. Anyway, keep quiet if you don't want your life threatened by them. And I'll give you your reward for saving me once we reach Vain."
I hadn't done it for a reward.
"You don't have to..."
"No. You saved Luna Valmore. As a noble, I must repay you properly. Is there anything you want?"
Given Luna's fair sense of reward and punishment, she'd definitely compensate me.
I had a few wishes.
Returning to my original world.
Compared to my world, this place was a lawless hellhole rife with slaughter.
Especially the Heyron Grand Duchy in the north—freezing cold, teeming with dangerous monsters.
But sending me back was beyond her power.
If not, I'd ask for money.
Enough to last a lifetime without working.
Nothing was more exhausting than dragging myself to work every morning.
But could I say that?
As I hesitated, she smirked.
"Looks like you do want something. Speak freely."
Asking for money outright might disgust her as materialistic.
I had to avoid earning hatred from a grand noble like her.
After some mental gymnastics, I came up with a clever idea.
"I'm boarding outside Vain's walls right now, so commuting is tough. A place to stay in Vain would be great."
I indirectly asked for a house inside Vain's walls.
She wouldn't be petty enough to get me a cheap rental, right?
As Grand Duchess, buying a house should be easy.
And in the novel, Luna valued her dignity and authority highly, so I took a gamble.
It might seem shameless to demand a house from the Grand Duchess, but houses here cost a fortune.
Commoners couldn't buy one in a lifetime of work.
Perhaps surprised by my request, Luna asked again.
"That'll do?"
"Yes, that's plenty."
She pondered deeply, then frowned.
"I thought you wanted something bigger since you hesitated so long. Fine. I'll grant you a house inside Vain's walls."
She seemed a bit miffed, but with her promise, I didn't need to worry.
We finished eating and slept in the tent.
The next day, we finally reached our destination.
The capital of the Grand Duchy, Vain.
The gate guarding the capital was towering and massive.
As she slowly urged the horse forward, the guards raised their spears vertically toward the sky upon seeing her.
"Hail, Your Grace the Grand Duchess."
But puzzlement flickered on the guards' faces.
She'd left with dozens of rookie guards, but only two returned.
"Aiden, this is where we part. You'll probably receive your reward tomorrow."
I looked troubled at her words.
The horse was tall; my feet didn't reach the ground, so I had no clue how to dismount.
"Your Grace Luna, I don't know how to get off..."
She glanced back, our eyes met, then she dismounted and offered her hand.
"Whoa..."
Holding her hand, I got down. With an indifferent face, she remounted.
And...
"Hyah."
-Clop, clop.
She spurred the horse away swiftly and soon vanished.
So cold.
Just like in the novel.
I stared blankly at where she'd disappeared, then headed to my boarding house.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Luna arrived at the splendid Grand Ducal Palace.
She immediately summoned the officials.
To find the culprits behind the rookie guards and the ambush on her.
'They knew we left Vain and prepared meticulously.'
Knowing poison wouldn't work well against a Swordmaster, they'd prepared various drugs.
Mana Sealing Drug to suppress mana activation, Paralysis Drug to restrict movement.
And Aphrodisiac to maximize drug effects via blood flow and mental pressure.
Luna was certain there was an inside collaborator in league with outsiders.
And she was right.
It was hard for outsiders to track her location.
"The reason I summoned you all today is because I was ambushed recently."
She scanned the room with sharp eyes.
Watching for any odd behavior, she scrutinized her retainers' faces intently, but...
'Tch, sly foxes.'
They only showed shock.
'There must be a traitor here.'
They were all seasoned politicians.
Luna clicked her tongue, knowing their true feelings were hard to read.
No one here knew the filth of politics better than she did.
'No choice. Even if it takes time, I'll root them out myself.'
"Heavens! How could such a thing happen in the Grand Duchy!"
"Your Grace! To think such vile people exist! This must be Duke Akin's doing."
"Or perhaps the Imperial Crown Prince!"
"What?! Why would His Highness the Crown Prince, who courts Your Grace so fervently, do that?!"
"I suspect Sir Eric."
The room fell silent at one retainer's words.
Eric was Luna's uncle.
The younger brother of her late father, the previous Grand Duke, and currently first in line for succession.
'Hmm... Timid Eric doesn't seem the type.'
Luna already had headaches from suitors galore.
She had no desire to place some unknown man above her.
Even as Grand Duchess, she was just a woman in the household.
This world's reality meant she'd be swayed by her husband.
Even a consort husband—if treated poorly, she'd be branded a wicked woman.
And if that man approached with intent to devour the Grand Duchy, her headaches would worsen.
Thus, she'd declared herself married to the Grand Duchy, swearing off marriage.
To deter those seeking to stand over her.
Eric, who knew this better than anyone, trying to kill her?
Luna found it hard to believe.
The next Grand Duke would be him or his child anyway.
Failure in assassination meant too much to lose.
'Who could it be? Still plotting such reckless schemes?'
When she first ascended as Grand Duchess, Luna had been innocent.
But to survive the dirty, repulsive world of politics, she'd become more calculating and ruthless than anyone.
'Time to purge again.'
Luna had truly brushed death this time.
If not for that man then...
She'd be dead.
So Luna had no intention of letting it slide.
She resolved to a bloody purge.